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PODCAST

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast

Kevin Brown & Tom Burton

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution is the weekly podcast sponsored by LeadSmart Technologies that takes a deep dive into the topics impacting manufacturers, wholesale distribution, independent sales agents, and the global wholesale supply chain.Hosted by Kevin Brown, a 30-year veteran of wholesale distribution, and Tom Burton, a recognized thought leader in SaaS platforms for distributors, each episode reveals a unique perspective and valuable information about wholesale distribution

business management

All Episodes

90:03

More Rate Cuts, More Robots, More AI: What...

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast ·

2025/11/07

What do rate cuts, tariffs, and the rise of agentic AI mean for the future of wholesale distribution? In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton dissect the week’s biggest economic shifts, from the Federal Reserve’s policy moves to AI’s rapid integration across manufacturing, logistics, and B2B commerce. Learn how forward-thinking distributors are preparing for 2026, where automation meets leadership and contextual intelligence defines competitive advantage. What You’ll Learn: Why AI liter...

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88:53

The Leadership Edge: How Agentic Commerce Will Shape...

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast ·

2025/10/31

What happens when two industry veterans break down the biggest stories shaping wholesale distribution, AI adoption, and the global economy, live and unfiltered? In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton analyze everything from Fed rate cuts and tariffs to the rise of AI-driven commerce and the evolving role of leadership in an age of automation. Through their signature mix of insight and humor, they explore how distributors can stay resilient, data-smart, and human-centered amid rapid tech...

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98:24

Brendan Breen of The ISA on AI, Adaptability, & The...

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast ·

2025/10/24

What does the future of leadership look like in the distribution industry? In this special episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton sit down with Brendan Breen, President of the Industrial Supply Association (ISA), to explore how leadership transformation, AI adoption, and workforce evolution are redefining what it means to run a modern distribution business. From data-driven decision-making to generational shifts in workplace expectations, this episode unpacks the trends shaping the next decade...

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86:56

What Is AEO And Why Is It Redefining B2B Marketing?

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast ·

2025/10/17

Here’s (more than) a hint: it’s AI Engine Optimization. And right now, it could be even more important than SEO for B2B visibility. In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton unpack the latest economic shifts, from the government shutdown’s ripple effects to the rise of AI-driven commerce, and how they’re transforming manufacturing, logistics, and customer engagement. Learn why context engineering and AI-enabled CRM platforms are redefining the way distributors compete and connect in 2025. ...

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81:16

How Does the Government Shutdown Affect the Q4...

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast ·

2025/10/03

What happens when a government shutdown, interest rate cuts, and AI-driven commerce collide with the future of wholesale distribution? In this week’s Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton unpack the headlines that matter: the Fed’s next move, tariff resilience, and how AI-enabled platforms like LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ are reframing CRM as a growth engine. You’ll also hear why AI Engine Optimization (AEO) is quickly replacing SEO, and what it means for distribu...

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84:07

Economic Signals for Distributors: GDP, Fed Cuts, and...

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast ·

2025/09/26

What do tariffs, Fed rate cuts, and AI-driven search mean for the future of wholesale distribution? In this milestone episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton break down the latest updates on GDP growth, jobless claims, and U.S.–China tariffs, while exploring how AI Engine Optimization (AEO), digital payments, and LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ are rewriting the rules for distributors and manufacturers. What You’ll Learn: Why the latest GDP and job data sign...

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80:59

So The Fed Cut Rates. Will That Help The Supply Chain...

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast ·

2025/09/19

Is the Fed too late to cut rates—and what does it mean for distributors? In this episode of Around The Horn in Wholesale Distribution, hosts Kevin Brown and Tom Burton unpack the week’s economic headlines and explore how interest rate cuts, tariffs, and global supply chain volatility are reshaping the manufacturing and wholesale distribution landscape. From AI-driven sales playbooks to the hidden risks in employment data, Kevin and Tom reveal the trends that matter most for distributors, manu...

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92:00

Jobs Reports, Tariff Rulings, and the Future of...

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast ·

2025/09/05

What happens when AI adoption, tariffs, and interest rate cuts collide with the future of wholesale distribution? In this lively episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton tackle the jobs report, the Supreme Court’s tariff ruling, and why AI regulation needs a federal playbook, not 50 state ones. You’ll learn how LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ is cracking the code on CRM adoption, why decentralized data may surface economic truth faster than the Fed, and what e...

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89:12

Why Over 90% of AI Pilots Fail, and What Wholesale...

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast ·

2025/08/29

What do college football, tariffs, and AI pilots gone wrong have in common? In this week’s Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton connect cultural trends, economic contradictions, and digital transformation in wholesale distribution. From the E³ Model (Experience, Efficiency, Effectiveness) to LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ and the failure rate of corporate AI pilots, this episode explores why distributors must move from siloed data to customer intelligence platforms ...

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92:59

How To Future-Proof Wholesale Distribution: Fed...

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast ·

2025/08/22

What happens when AI-driven workflows, tariff pressures, and shifting B2B buyer expectations collide? In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton explore the trends redefining distribution: from AI co-pilots for sales and customer intelligence platforms to Fed rate cuts, tariff extensions, and the rise of Millennial and Gen Z buyers. You’ll learn why reframing CRM as a Customer Enablement Tool is critical, and how distributors can prepare for agent...

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89:29

"How Can My Wholesale Distribution Strategy Keep Up...

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast ·

2025/08/15

Is your CRM really driving revenue growth, or just storing notes no one reads? In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, hosts Kevin Brown and Tom Burton pull back the curtain on how AI-enabled customer intelligence platforms like LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ are transforming sales enablement, workflow automation, and decision-making in distribution. You’ll hear fresh economic insights, a candid look at tariff strategy, and why agentic AI workflows could be the future of...

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87:02

The Jobs Report Missed: Here’s What That Means for...

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast ·

2025/08/01

When the U.S. jobs report is off by tens of thousands, what does that mean for leaders in wholesale distribution? In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton break down the latest economic numbers—and why massive revisions to jobs data should concern every distributor, manufacturer, and revenue leader. Beyond the headlines, they explore how faulty metrics distort strategy, trigger bad decisions, and create pressure across supply chains and sales teams. But it’s not just about problems. The ho...

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83:04

How AI and Stablecoins Are Rewiring the Supply Chain...

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast ·

2025/07/25

Is your business ready for the AI economy, tariff turbulence, and the rapid rise of programmable payments? In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, co-founders Kevin Brown and Tom Burton unpack the week's most pressing trends, from stablecoin legislation to humanoid robotics, from AI-fueled job disruption to smart supply chain control towers. Perfect for manufacturers, distributors, and B2B leaders navigating the evolving intersection of tech, trade, and trust, this episo...

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93:21

Why B2B Buyers Want Sales Reps, Just Not All the Time

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast ·

2025/07/18

What happens when data-driven decision-making meets the chaos of tariffs, AI disruption, and a retiring workforce? In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton sit down with Mark Gilham of Enable to unpack the big shifts impacting manufacturers, distributors, and the global supply chain. From trade policy to pricing strategy, sales transformation to skilled labor shortages, this wide-ranging episode explores how wholesale leaders can future-proof their organizations using AI-enabled tools, sma...

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86:13

From Interest Rates to Cyber Risk: What Distribution...

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast ·

2025/07/11

What do tariffs, AI adoption, and digital readiness have in common? They’re all reshaping the future of wholesale distribution. In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, hosts Kevin Brown and Tom Burton unpack the forces shaping the industry from rising cybersecurity threats to the real reason distributors aren’t seeing results from generative AI tools. This episode blends actionable economic insights with digital transformation strategy and is a must-listen for Revenue Le...

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93:16

How Distributors Can Win in a Soft Landing Economy,...

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast ·

2025/06/30

What if the economic slowdown didn’t spell disaster—but a window of opportunity? In this episode, Senior Economist Taylor St. Germain of ITR Economics joins the show to unpack what a “soft landing” really means for distributors—and how to strategically navigate uncertainty, inflation moderation, and shifting customer demand without panic or paralysis. If you're a distributor wondering how to protect margins, forecast accurately, or align your strategy to economic signals, this con...

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85:50

The New B2B Revolution: AI, Segmentation, and The...

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast ·

2025/06/20

How will distributors thrive in the age of digital transformation, AI disruption, and customer experience redefinition? In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, Ian Heller sits down with John Gunderson and Kevin to unpack the seismic shifts reshaping B2B sales strategy, channel alignment, and customer segmentation. With insightful commentary and bold predictions, the team explores the future of CRM-ERP integration, why distributors must evolve beyond legacy thinking, and ...

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90:43

Text-to-Order, GenAI Roles, and AI Scams: Inside the...

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast ·

2025/06/13

How are global supply chains bouncing back amid recession fears, and what role does generative AI play in rewriting the future of B2B sales, marketing, and cybersecurity? In Episode 146 of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, hosts Kevin Brown and Tom Burton of LeadSmart Technologies unpack the economic shifts, digital commerce trends, and AI-infused transformations shaping the future of manufacturing and distribution. From tariffs and freight to text-based orders and AI-powered s...

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90:43

Tariffs, Humanoid Robots and AI in Distribution with...

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast ·

2025/06/06

What happens when a fourth-generation industrial distributor embraces digital transformation? In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton are joined by Max Meister of Ludwig Meister GmbH to explore what it really takes to modernize sales, systems, and mindsets in a legacy-driven industry. From CRM reimagination to cultural adoption strategies, this episode is a masterclass in building a future-ready distribution business without losing your human edge. What You’ll Learn&nbs...

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89:33

Why 90% of Distributors Say Their Business Model May...

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast ·

2025/05/30

Are U.S. tariffs helping or hurting your business model? In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton unravel the legal, economic, and operational chaos triggered by shifting U.S. tariffs, AI adoption, and distribution tech disruptions. From trade court rulings to Mexico’s manufacturing boom, they explore what every distributor, manufacturer, and channel leader needs to know to navigate today’s volatility with foresight and resilience. W...

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154 results

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